Collapsible carrying container



April 7, 1931- E. o. TINSLEY COLLAPSIBLE CARRYING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 22, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR April 7, 1931. E. o. TINSLEY COLLAPSIBLE CARRYING CONTAINER Filed DeC. 22, 1928 5 Sizeens-Sheet I 4 INVENTOR Edwarda .Tznsle.

BY KQ Wm ATTORNEY April 7, 1931- E. o. TINSLEY COLLAPSIBLE CARRYING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 22 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Edward 0. Tingle ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1931 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD O. TINSLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT GAIR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A GDRPORATION 0! NEW YORK COLLAYSIBLE CARRYING CONTAINER Application filed December 22, 1928. Serial No. 827,805.

The present invention relates to containers, and has particular reference to a portable, display carton assembled from a single blank.

Among the many advantages that may be cited in favor of a carton assembled from a single blank, two are particularly important. One of these involves the economy attendant upon the ready manufacture of the blanks in quantity, the other, the fact that the carton blanks may be shipped in fiat, collapsed packagesto the distributor.

Other desirable advantages are to be noted. The material such as pasteboard, strawboard and the like, out of which the carton is fabricated, may be fed through the proper machine in webbed form. Again, the blanks may be cut and scored from the webs with a minimum of waste, and labor expense. Lastly, the finished blanks may be assembled in collapsed or knocked-down condition for ready use by the consumer.

Thus, one of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a carton which may be speedily and easily assembled from a single blank, and when in assembled or erected condition, be capable of receiving articles, such as bottles containing beverages, and lastly, be so constructed as to be readily adapted for safe carriage, and prominent display of the articles contained in the carton.

Another object of the invention is to provide handle means on a carton, the former being integral with the carton blank, whereby the carton may be carried with facility when filled with articles, such as bottles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable, display carton so designed that the load, carried thereby, may be properly balanced and distributed, whereby a thinner grade of board stock may be utilized in the fabrication of the carton.

And another object of the invention is to provide a portable carton, made from a single blank, so constructed and designed, that the portions of the carton subjected to loads, strains and stresses, are reinforced with a plurality of duplicate walls.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a portable carton of a display type with means, whereby a plurality 0 articles, such as beverage bottles, may be carried therein, portions ofthe carton being constructed to act as separators between the bottles to prevent their intimate contact, and to act as buffers to obviate rattling and breaking of the bottles.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a display carton, fabricated from a one-piece blank, whereby a single printing operation will provide one plain surface of the blank with all the desired printing matter, and which carton when the blank is erected in operative position, will have all of its printed sides exposed, thus enhancing the advertising value of the carton, and prominently displaying the contents thereof.

And other objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and efficiency of portable cartons, and to provide a device of this kind which is economical, durable and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a container, blanked out of one piece, wherein the contents may be carried, either completely enclosed by suitable closing flaps, or carried and displayed by folding the closing flaps in open, content display position, as will later be disclosed, and at the same time be collapsible into a flat folded assembly to be shipped ifn bundles for ready erection when required or use.

Many of the features of the invention may be used without employing all of them, as some of those which are not essential may be omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention, though such omission may to a greater or less extent affect the quality of the product. Moreover, the device is capable of receiving various mechanical expressions without departing from the spirit of the invention itself; and, for the purpose of describing the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the preferred forms of apparatus.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the carton in erected condition and ready for the introduction of articles therein.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken through the middle of Fig. l, and showing in dotted lines a plurality of bottles in position therein.

Fig. 3 is a. partially erected view of the blank showing the first step in folding it into erected position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a developed view of the carton blank, scored, and in position for the first motion of erection, this view being the reverse of that shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a View of the carton in collapsed position and ready to be moved into the position shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line AB, Fig. 3, this section being similar for the opposite carton forming member.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of carton.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken through the middle of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows a developed view of the blank used to form the carton shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 a perspective View of a container, modified over that shown in the preceding figures, wherein there is provided additional means for completely enclosing the container, leaving it rectangular in contour.

Fig. 11 shows a similar view with the handles extended.

Fig. 12 shows a similar view with the enclosing means folded back, displaying the container interior.

Fig. 13 shows the device in fiat collapsed shipping condition.

Fig. 14 is a blank layout, similar to Fig. 4, showing how the enclosing means is developed from a single fiat sheet in conjunction with the container forming elements.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, and as illustrated in the perspective view, Fig. 1, the device comprises substantially an outer four- Walled casing 1, which surrounds and encloses a pair of opposed open side compartment forming members 2.

These members 2 are located, back to back, within the surrounding casing 1, each of the carton forming members 2 and the casing member 1 being formed from a single blank, as will be later described.

The adjacent ends of the casing member 1 are secured, as at 3, Fig.1 so as to form an outer embracing casing member as shown. The side walls 4 of the members 2, where they adjoin the back forming flap 5, are tapered for a portion of their length. Thus, there is provided an open and accessible entrance for the articles to be placed therein, and also form at their lower casing embraced portions, as stabilizers for maintaining the casing member 1 in rectangular open position, when erected from the collapsed position, shown in Fig. 5.

The back flap forming members 5, 5 are each provided with a semi-blanked out slot member 6 near the top thereof whereby to form a hand-grip opening, the flap 7 blanked therefrom, being preferably hinged to one side of said slotted opening whereby to reinforce. the hand hole 6 against tearing when the carton is being carried.

The back members 5 are, further, each prcvided with a pair of blanked-out, undetached, hinged rectangular portions 8, 8. These latter portions are blanked out of the said back members, being slit out and hingedly-seored thereto, to form outstanding buffer members, whereby the carton may be easily used for carrying bottles. 'As shown in Fig. 2, these flaps 8 may be extended outwardly to form bufiers between the adjacent bottles, to prevent contact thereof, thus eliminating rattling noise and obviating accidental breakage of the bottles.

When the carton is in erected form, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it provides rigid, substantially rectangular carrying members. The bottle load is suspended upon, and carried by the middle load-carrying section, which is formed by the two back members 5, which are so developed in the folding of this carton as to run intermediately of the carton as shown in Fig. 2.

Thus, as in the case of the bottles, each bottle carried is isolated, one from the other, and out of contact with each other, thereby supporting each bottle in a buffer-isolated, carrying position.

In Fig. 4, which is a developed view of the carton, the component parts of Fig. l.

are shown in stretched out or blank form, and the particular parts of the blank will be described in detail. The casing member 1 is formed by a longitudinal strip, and comprises atab portion 9, used as a securing means, and is separated from the rest of the strip 1 by a score line 9. The carton side element 10, Fig. 2, is formed by the panel;

10, Fig. 4:, and is scored away from the blank by lines 10 and 10". A second panel 11 is scored away from 10 by scoring lines 10 and 11'. A third panel 12 is scored away from panel llan'd is also scored at 12. A fourth panel 13 forming a second carton side element 13, Fig. 2, is scored away from panel 12 by scoring line 12. Panel 13 is, further, scored from the main carton forming member by a second score line 13". A fifth panel 14 is scored away from panel 13 by the score line 13'. A sixth panel 15 is scored away from panel 14 by score lines 14, the outer edge of this latter panel 15 terminating at the end of the casing strip, opposite tab 9.

The casing strip 1 is, thus, divided into a series of panels and flaps scored relative one to the other, and scored away from the main I carton forminportions by the score lines 10' and 13". i he relative positions of these score lines and the panels are indicated in Fig. 1, forming their casing forming positions when erected. The two back to back elements 5 carry similar numerals, as described for Fig. 1, and are readily identified in Fig. 4. To further understand the component forms, it will be noted that there are between each of the members 5, 5, Fig. 4, and the casin strip 1, a connecting panel 16. These pane s 16 are scored'away from the casing panels 13'and 10 by the score lines 13 and 10, and for the members 5, 5 by score lines 16, 16., and these two panels 16 are bendableaway from the casing strip 1, as will be later described. These two panel members 16, when the back to back members 5, 5 are assembled, form the inside bottom of the carrying compartment, as shown in Fig. 2. a

The back members 5 are rovided with op? posing side members 4, in t e nature of w1ng panels, which are connected to the back forming members 5 by score lines 4'. The back membersf'5 with their hinged bottle buffer members 8 scored as at 8' are also shown in the blank layout in, Fig. 4. The handle slotted member 6 is also shown, with the hinged member 7. a

With the blank in the position shown in Fig. 4, in order to erect the carton into nonoperative, collapsed shipment position ready to be. quickly opened, the following operaions are to be followed, it being understood that the blank as shown in Fig. 4 is with the printed surface down and the unprinted surface up toward the observer.

The first move is to bend the flaps 4 inwardly and over upon the score lines4 so thatthey lie flat upon the back members 5. Themembers 5 with the pre-folded flap members 4 are folded upwardly on the score lines 13" and 10', thus bringing the members 5, 5 into the position shown in Fig. 3.

Then, the entire blank is folded upon the score line-11, Fig. 3, bringing the two members. 5,5 into registration with one another. The panel member 15 is next folded over on line 14 until it registers and contacts with tab 9, and these two members are secured together by adhesive, staples, or otherwise. The blank is now in knocked-down, flat, collapsed form for shipment to the user, as shown in Fig. 5.

When the consumer receives the blank shown in Fig. 5, to erect the carton for carrying purposes, it is merely necessary to set the container up on its edge 16. and open the side flaps 4 which in turn extend the casing member 1, automatically forcing the bottom forming members 16 downwardly, bringing the hand hole slots-6 into registration with one another. Thereafter, bending the cushion flaps 8 outwardly into the associated comand the carton still will function perfectly,

and without distortion or accident. The entire load is supported in the carton by the two back to back members 5, 5 and the bottom forming members 16, 16, and retained against these members by the casing slrip 1.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the general structure of the carton is identical to that shown in Figs. l6 inclusive, and, therefore, like members will be similarly numbered. In this modification there is provided a single piece, two-compartmented carrying member, in which-the casing strip 1 has extended from its upper edge a series of added panels 17, 17. These latter panels, when folded, cause the outer panels 10 and 13 to become reinforced since a double wall is panels 11, 12, 14 and 15, to provide the ends of the carton with the triple wall protection. The carton blank shown in- Fig. 9, is folded into operative shape in the same manner, as noted above for the carton shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive. The score lines 11 and 14' form the collapsing scores whereby the entire carton may be collapsed and so shipped for opening. The collapsed, shipping position of this form of carton is the same as shown in Fig. 5'. The casing strip 1, as explained before, retains within it, the complete assembly, ready for erection.

Here, again, the edge of panel 15 may be glued on stapled to flap 9.

' It will thus be seen that I have provided a portable containerwhich is made from a great facility, to receiving in non-contacting position articles for portage thereof from place to place, thereby obviating the danger of breakage in the case of articles, as glass bottles, due to rattling. At the same time the erected carton has been so designed as to constantly and prominently display the said articles whether or not the carton is being carried.

The modifications shown in Figs. 10 to 14 inclusive are, in the main, similar to the structure described for Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, and in these Figs. 10 to 14 like indices are utilized throughout to indicate the same parts and their functions as described for Figs. 1 to 9.

The modified structure in Figs. 10 to 14 has, however, additional coacting elements whereby the container described and shown in Figs. 1 to 9 is so constructed as to permit the carrying container to be set up into a com-,

pletely enclosed package, as in Fig. 10, with no protusions whatever, thereby to permit a plurality of such containers, when filled, to be packed in a separate outer shippingbox of any nature. When so shipped, and the box is opened, the separate containers may then have their handles'folded outwardly as at 7, Fig. 11, whereby the containers still closed in rectangular form may be carried by hand without exposure of contents.

A container as herein outlined forms a single hand carried container, and an excellent bottle separating and cushioning means for a shipping box, when a plurality of these containers are filled and packed into such suitable shipping box, not shown.

Further, as shown in Fig. 12, if such containers, when removed from the shipping box,

are desired for display purposes by the vendor, the enclosing elements forming the outer cover for the container may be folded back and under the container and there held by the weight of the contents in display position, but ready for instant closure for a carryaway sale.

To this end, the following disclosure will v recite only such additional elements as are required to the device shown in Figs. 1 to 9, without redescription of prior parts.

In Fig. 14 which outlines the modification in its blank contour, the carton sides 10 and 13 have scored from'their lower edges at a and b respectively panels 00 of the same width as the said sides. These in turn have scored at (Z therefrom depending narrow panels (Z(Z and, scored at 4' from these latter panels, are a pair of tuck-in flaps ee.

Further, the four side walls 4, which function as described for Fig. 1, are each provided with an extended bending flap f, which are each scored from walls 4 by ascore line 9. The flaps f are cut clear at the lines h, to permit of right angled folding from the handle forming elements 7-7.

permit the folding of the handle flap k, Within the container dimensions, as inFig. 10, the handle flaps h are scored from panel 5 b scored lines 5- whereby they maybe fol ed downwardly along the upper ends of side panels 4-4, and thus be out of the way for shipping box packing.

When removed from the shipping box the handle flaps may be erected as in Fig. 11, and the handle flaps arranged as previousl described. In folding the handle flaps it own, Fig 12 illustrates the position for either closlng or opening the same. In this figure the end "flaps are first folded down to form supports for t e handle flaps and to reinforce the upper corners of the side members H- In Fi 12, the enclosing flaps 0-0 are shown olded downwardly with the flaps dd and ee folded under the bottom of the container. In Figs. 10 and 11 the enclosing flaps are shown folded up over the upper ends.

and tucked by flaps 03e between backs 5 to lock the assembly in closed position with handles h in or out as required.

The container may be collapsed flat for bulk shipping as indicated in Fig 13, in which the various panels and scores in this gag view are, it is thought, sufficiently identi- The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding. Hence, no unnecessary limitation should be understood. The appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art. I

What I desire to claim is:

1. In a portable carton, formed from a single blank, and adapted to receive bottles in display position, a pair of vertical members adapted to be positioned back to back, a pair of tapered flaps flexibly connected to each of said members, adjacent flaps of each member lying in the same plane and forming the end walls of said carton, a pair of panels flexibly connected to said vertlcal members, said panels forming the bottom of said car'- ton and lying in the same plane, said bottom panels being in contact with said fla s when in carton-forming position, an e ongated strip, including reinforcing panels and flaps, flexibly connected to said bottom panels, said reinforcing panels and flaps being positioned between said strip and bottom panels and flexibly connected thereto, said strip comprising side panels, and end panels flexibly connected to one another, one of said end panels being provided with a weakened portion and being positioned between said side panels, the other end panel also having a weakened portion and being positioned between side panels only When secured to one of said side panels, said strip, in carton-forming position, embracing said end flaps and back members, said reinforicng panels being in face to face contact with said strip side panels, and said reinforcing flaps being positioned between said strip end panels and said end flaps, when said strip is in said embracing position, said strip cooperating with said end flaps, back members, and bottom panels to form a pair of adjacent compartments having open tops, each of said back members bein further provided with a pair of flaps fle-xi ly connected thereto, said flaps acting as separating flaps between articles placed in each compartment to prevent contact of said articles, said back members being further rovided with registering slots to receive ngers whereby said carton may be carried when loaded with said articles, said strip contacting with said end flaps for only a portion of the length of said flaps thereby afiording prominent display to articles positioned in said compartments, said carton being adapted to be collapsed into shipping position by placing said end-flaps and bottom panels into face to face contact with said back members and bending said strip along the weakened portions of said strip end panels.

2. In a carton, formed from a single blank, and adapted to receive bottles in display position, a pair of members adapted to be positioned in back to back relation, a pair of flaps connected to each of saidmembers, adjacent flaps of each member forming the end Walls of said carton, a pair of panels connected to said vertical members, said panels forming the bottom of said carton, said bottom panels being in contact with said flaps when in carton-forming position, an elongated strip, including reinforcing members, connected to said bottom panels, said strip comprising side panels and end panels connected to one another, said end panels being provided with weakened portions, said strip in carton-forming position embracing said end flaps and back members, certain of said reinforcing members being in face to face contact With said strip side panels, and others being positioned between said strip end panels and said end flaps, when said strip is in said embracing position, said strip cooperating with said end flaps, back members, and bottom panels to form a pair of adjacent compartments having open tops, the side and end walls of which compartments are reinforced, each of said back members being further provided with separating flaps between articles placed in each compartment to prevent contact of said articles, said strip contacting with said end flaps for only a portion of the length of said flaps thereby afiording prominent display to articles positioned in said compartments, said carton being adapted to be collapsed in to shipping position by bending said strip along the weakened portions of said strip end panels.

3. In a container, comprising two separate substantially double walled compartments, the outer wall portion of one of said compartments being continuous with the outer wall ortion of the other of said compartments, a oining member on each of said com artments, secured to the end walls thereo for locking the said compartments into back to back relation, and suspension means. on each of said members, whereby said container may be carried.

I 4. In a container, comprising a pair of separate compartments, a one piece blankof cardboard or the like, including a pair of panels, to be placed into back to back relation, to. form a two ply joining member for said compartments, side flaps on said panels,

disposed transversely thereto, when said container is erected, and a strip, integral with said panels, disposed to encompass said compartments, to form side walls and end walls therefor, said end walls to be secured to said side flaps, whereby to bring said panels into back to back relation and to retain the same in said relation..

5. The elements of claim 3, said joining members being integral with the bottoms of said compartments and said suspension means comprising registering slots on said joining members for the hand of a person to pass therethrough.

6. The elements of claim 4, combined with added panels on said blank, positioned between said first mentioned panels and said strip and foldable therewith on horizontal scorelines, said added panels having each thereon integrally therewith a pair of accessory flaps, said added panel-s to reinforce the side walls of said compartments and said accessory flaps to reinforce the end walls thereof when said container is erected.

7. In a container, comprising a pair of separate compartment-s, a one piece blank comprising partition panels, for a pair of joining members, to lock the said compartments into back to back relation, whereby the container may be maintained in display position, and a girth strip comprising si e wall panels and end wall panels, foldably connected to each other on vertical score lines, when said container is erected, said end wall panportion of the other, and strip means for lock-v ing the compartments into back to back relation, and means provided in each compartment'whereby said container may be carried, said means comprising registering slots to re- I ceive fingers whereby said carton ma be carried 'when loaded with said artic es, said strip contacting withsaid compartments for only a. portion of the length of said flaps thereby affording prominent display to articles positioned in said compartments.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 21st day of December, A. D. 1928;

t EDWARD O. TINSLEY. 

